Managing People in Tech

@jesslynnrose

jessica.tech

Housekeeping 🗑

What are the ethical responsibilities a manager carries?

Managers should...

• Do no harm to their reports
• Help mitigate harmful environments
• Advocate for their reports
• Prevent their reports from harming others
• Direct reports in line with business goals

Holding Effective 1:1s

In many cases you may want to...

• Aim to have 1:1 meetings with your reports at frequent, regular times. Weekly or biweekly 1:1s are a common choice
• Take notes and document action items
• Structure 1:1s to meet needs of individual reports
• Hold 1:1s in real time: in person or on a call
• Check in on projects or tasks
• Give your reports time to ask you questions

Goal Setting

Managers work within the context of organizational goals, helping set team and individual goals with and for their reports.

Goals should be referred to frequently, not only during reviews.

Goals for individuals should include personally relevant goals, not just business and team goals.

Goals should be...

• Designed with your reports, not dictated to them
• Measurable and trackable (SMART)
• Referenced and discussed in 1:1s
• Part of your assessment and review process for your reports

Resources...

Wikipedia article for SMART acronym

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria

Coaching

As a manager, you'll want to support your team and reports through the goals you've set together.

You can't just tell someone to gradually improve and walk away, coaching is one way to offer sustained support.

Make coaching matter...

• By clearly defining goals together
• Regularly meet to discuss growth and goals
• Focus conversations around their goals
• Offer advice sparingly, you're coaching-not mandating

Assessment and Reviews

As a manager, you'll likely be a part of assessment and review processes for your reports and/or team. These are often yearly, semi-annually or quarterly.

Prepare carefully for these, being ready to both advocate for your reports and to formalize feedback you've been giving them throughout the year.

Prepare for reviews by...

• Understand the culture of reviews and rewards in your company before you start
• Keep and maintaining clear notes
• Give regular feedback: nothing in a formal review should be a surprise for your report to hear
• Know and understand salaries, benefits and bonuses both of your reports and in the company and market
• Watch how people work, not just what they produce

Managers as Advocates

You're a manager to serve and support your reports, as well as business needs. As part of your work with reports, you'll need to act as a meaningful advocate for your reports and for your team.

Good advocates...

• Are willing to address salary, benefit, vacation and other tangible needs for their reports both in and outside of review processes
• Advocate for access to interesting work and learning opportunities
• Spotlight the successes of their team and reports

Q&A Session

@jesslynnrose